Engine cleaning equipment



June 2, 1953 E. J. SANDERS ETAL ENGINE CLEANING EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed March 20, 1950 5244025 cZ'SAA/oE/as, "(Z ALLEN WEA/s, E0130 :7.Me 62/! v5,

.ZivvewToes. wz/w/fif 1 Wahr B'essure June 2, 1953 E. J. SANDERS ETI'ALENGINE CLEANING EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1950 1 a II Il .l I I. l PIMIWIIHUH HH w m 4 J 2 h a '5 w 0/ w r s v ..E.. w MNWW W W5 M; my $57 MW 5 [7. M 1 fin B Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OF Fl ENGINE CLEANING EQUIP MENT to saidSanders ApplicationMarchzfl, 1950, SeriaINo. 150,678

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improved apparatus for cleaningautomobile engines and concerns particularly novel equipment forsupplying a number of fluids to an engine cleaning spray gun.

In our copending applicatiomserial Number 146,416, we have disclosed aspray gun'designed for cleaning automobile engines by sequentialimpingement of the engine surfaces with sprays of a number of'cleaningfluids. Specifically, the gun is operable-to selectively ejectspraysof'air, water and a suitable cleaning fluid, such as a hydrocarbonsolvent, in a manner effectively cleaning an entire engine in a periodof but a few minutes. To assure most effective operation of this gun andto facilitate control of the fluid streams by an operator, it isdesirable that-air be furnished to the gun under considerable pressureand that water and cleaning fluid be supplied at a relatively low,approximately atmospheric pressure. The compressed air is then employedselectively as either a separate cleaning or drying agent or as-a motivefluid for inducing sprays of the other fluids as desired.

- Maintenance of both the water and cleaning fluid at approximatelyatmospheric pressure is highly desirable for several reasons. In thefirst place, when the water and cleaning. fluid are at atmosphericpressure, their'discharge may beeasily commenced and interrupted bycontrol of the spray inducing air stream, to thus greatly facilitatehandling and control of the gun in use. Further, such maintenance of thewater and cleaning fluid both at approximately atmospheric pressureeliminates any possibility of one fluid flowing into and contaminatingthe supply system of the other fluid, as for instance by flowing fromone supply system into the other through the gun.

The general object of the present inventionis to provide apparatus forsupplyingqair, water-and cleaning fluid at proper pressures and in mostconvenient manner to an engine cleaning spray gun of the abovecharacter. A particular object is to provide a fluid handling unit forthispurpose especially designed for convenient use at a 'service'stationor automobile repair. garage, where it is contemplated guns of thischaracter will normally be used. In this connection, the fluid supplyapparatus is preferably contained within .a portable wheeled cabinetadapted for bodily movement to various locations around a servicestation or garage. The fluids may be supplied to a gun carried by thecabinet through a multiple passage hose woundabout an automatic take-upreel adapted to normally retain the hose in'are- 2 tracted conditionwhile permitting manual withdrawal of the hose-from thereel when theoccasion arises for its use.

Particularly contemplated is the provi'sionof means for assuring thedelivery of a continuous supply ofwater to a-spray gun at the properre1atively low pressure. For this purpose, we preferably include in thewater systemapressurere-v ducingvalve operable to automatically reducethe pressure of a supply of water to avalueonly slightly in excess ofatmospheric pressure.

When cleaning an automobile engine, it is sometimes necessary toremovepools ofwate'r or other liquid from various cavitated surfacesofthe engine or frame, Afurther object of the invention is to provide asystem which, in addition to supplying the necessary fluids for. spraycleaning an automobile engine, is .adaptedfor reversal of operation tocreate a suction at thev gunnoz ale to rapidly. and effectively drawliquid into the gun and through the gun to a waste outlet. As willappear, this effect may be attained by employment of an. aspiratordevice operated-by the pressure of the compressed air normally directedinto the gun and acting to create'a partialvaccum in a line leadingtothe. gun.

Thoughsolvent, water and air usually serve to clean an engine verysatisfactorily, we have en-. countered situations where an added sprayof de tergent 'or soap solution has been desirable .to assure athoroughcleaningjob. Consequently, we prefer to include in our fluid handlingsystem means for holding 'a supply of such detergent, and we especiallyformthe control apparatus-to permit selective introduction of eitherthesolvent or the detergent intoa lineleading to the spray un.

The above and further features andobjects of the present invention willbe better understood from the following detailed description o'flthetypicalembodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

, Fig. 1 is a front view of a preferred for-1n of portable fluid supplyunitv embodying. thev inven-;- tion;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the cabinet with its wall brokenaway to revealthe internal parts of the apparatus, this view being taken on liner-4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe cabinet; I,

Fig. 4 is arear view of the cabinetwith' its wall partially broken awayto show'the hose reel and liquid'containingtanks;

Fig.5 is a schematic representation orthefluid handling system: and

- Fig. 6 is avertical section through there'el-and its mountingstructure and showing particularly the swivel inlet connections throughwhich water, air and solvent are introduced into the reel carried hose.

The illustrated fiuid supplying equipment is contained within asubstantially rectangular upstanding cabinet or housing I mounted forportability by a pair of wheels II and having a downwardly projectingU-shaped leg member I2 oifset forwardly of the wheels and cooperatingwith the wheels to support the portable cabinet in any position to whichit may be moved. The forward side of the housing contains an upper hosepassing opening I3 about which are positioned rollers I4 and throughwhich hose I5 extends outwardly for connection to spray gun I6.

Hose I5 contains three inner conduits I'I, I8 and I I9 for conductingwater, solvent and air respectively to the gun. When not in use, the gunis mounted to the outside of the housing by reception of its upperintegral hook portion 2| within a mounting bracket 22 on the cabinet andby reception of its outer nozzle end between spring fingers 23 on thecabinet.

At its inside, the cabinet or housing It contains a transverse floor 24supported by angles 25 and upon which most of the fluid handlingapparatus is carried. Specifically, we provide in the housing abovefloor 24 a first supply tank 26 for containing a suitable cleaningsolvent, a second supply tank 21 for containing a detergent solution, awater pressure reducing valve 28, a water reservoir 29, and an automatictakeup hose reel 30 carrying hose I5 to which the various fluids aresupplied.

Solvent tank 26 is supported by fioor 24 alongside the hose reel 30. Inflowing from this tank to the hose reel, solvent passes first upwardlythrough line I45 and check valve 45, and then through two-Way valve 46and line 41 to the reel. Tank 26 is adapted to be filled through anupper filling tube 36 projecting through the top of the cabinet andnormally closed by a removable cap 31. Sliding indicator plate 38,having the markings tank full and tank empty alternately visible throughan opening 39 in the top of the cabinet (see Fig. 3), serves to indicatewhen the solvent tank has reached an empty condition. As seen best inFig. 2, movement of this indicator plate between its tank full and tankempty" positions is effected by pivotal movement of bell crank 40 aboutits fulcrum point 4 I, which movementis in turn caused by verticalmovement of control rod 42. This control rod is actuated by crank arm43, which moves in response to the upward and downward movement of float44 within the solvent tank. As will be understood, as long as aconsiderable amount of solvent remains in the tank, float 44 will remainin its upper full line position of Fig. 4 to retain sliding plate 38 inits Fig. 3 position registering tank full. When the solvent level fallslower, fioat 44 moves downwardly toward its broken line position of Fig.4 to move the sliding plate to a position in which the words tank emptyare visible through window 39.

Detergent tank 21 is mounted on floor 24 alongside solvent tank 26 andis adapted to discharge detergent into line 41?. For this purpose, line48 leads upwardly through the top or the detergent tank and check valve49 to valve 46. Valve 46 is of any conventional two-way construction,being operable by a handle I46 at thetop of the housing to selectivelyadmit either solvent from tank 26 or detergent from tank 21 into line 441 leading to the hose. Detergent tank 21 is adapted to be filled by anupwardly extending filling connection 50 carrying a cap 5| above the topof the cabinet (see Fig. 2).

Water at any convenient pressure is introduced into the cabinet throughan inlet fitting 3| at the lower portion of its rear side and flowsupwardly through line 32 to pressure reducing valve 28 at the top of thecabinet. This valve is adapted to reduce the pressure of the water to avalue only slightly in excess of atmospheric pressure, the exactpressure at the discharge side of the valve being controllable by knob33 at the top of the housing. Water from pressure reducing valve 28fiows through line 34 into the top "of water accumulating reservoir 29.The pressure reducing and regulating valve thus serves to maintain asupply of water at a predetermined relatively low pressure within thewater reservoir at all times. Water at this low pressure may then bedischarged from the reservoir into hose I5 through line 35. The pressurereducing valve is normally maintained at a setting such that the wateras it reaches the gun is at atmospheric pressure. However, this valvemay be completely opened by handle 33 to supply full line pressure tothe gun when desired.

Hose reel 30 is rigidly carried by a central shaft 52 rotativelysupported by bearing member 53 projecting upwardly from the cabinetfioor. Hose I5 is secured at its inner end to the reel and is normallywound about the reel in the condition shown in the figures. The outerend of the hose projects outwardly through hose passing opening I3 inthe cabinet for connection to the spray gun. as previously described. Toaccurately guide the hose, bearing 53 may carry an arm 54 projectingangularly toward the hose passing opening in the cabinet and carrying apair of rollers 55 through which the hose extends as it leaves the reel.As seen best in Fig. 6, the usual take-up spring 56 is mounted at theside of the reel and tends to rotate the reel in a direction retractingthe hose. This spring may be connected at its outer end I52 to the reeland at its inner end I53 to bearing 53. The usual latch element I56cooperates with notches I51 in the reel to releasably lock the reel inany desired withdrawn condition.

Compressed air is supplied to the cabinet through inlet fitting 51 fromwhich it flows up wardly through line 58 into swivel inlet 59 at oneside of the reel mounting. This swivel in let introduces fluid intopassage 60 in tubular shaft 52, which passage connects at its inner endwith hose conduit I9. Similarly, solvent or detergent may be introducedinto passage 62 at the opposite end of shaft 52 through swivel inlet 6|,to fiow through that passage into the conduit I8 of the hose. Water fromline 35 is introduced through the same swivel inlet BI into passage 64in the shaft to flow through that passage into water conduit ll of thethree-fluid hose. As will be understood, the water and solvent areseparated within the swivel inlet by a seal ring 65.

Beneath floor 24 of the cabinet, I mount a fluid ejector or aspirator56, the primary side or jet tube I66 of which is placed in communicationwith the compressed air inlet line 58 through a two-way valve 61. Thesecondary side of the ejector is connected to air line 58 beyond valve51. A discharge valve 68 controls the discharge from the ejector throughwaste outlet fitting 69. Normally, two-way valve 6'! will be in acondition permitting the passage of compressed air from; inlet:connection 151 i tthrough line '58 and into :the "air line within ihoseI15. However, when it is desired to employ the 51m forzpickingiupn poolof liquid, *two way "valve 61 is turned to acondition inwhich-compressedair Jfrom iinlet 51 flows into ithe jet tube ;of the "ejector ratherLth-an into the hose. Valve 68 is 2! ts filled with a suitabledeter-gent solution through filling "connection 50, a "compressed *airsupply hose is-connected to air inlet *fitting 57. and =a water supplyline carrying *water under pressure, as for instance under normalcommercialgpressure, is connected to Water inlet" fitting 31.'Two-zway'valve 6,1 is normally turned to a position :to admitcompressed air into the hose through line 58. Two-way valve 46 isnormally turned ,to rai'position :to place :solvzent itank I26 incommunication .withlineJl'l randihose conduit l8.

With-the apparatus in "this condition, "air is supplied to-the gun'at arelatively highipressure,

and water and solvent are supplied to the "gun at approximatelyatmospheric pressure. 'The gun may '-then be employed to direct spraysof these fluids in difierent combinations against the engine surfaces tobe cleaned. If it'is desired to discharge the detergent solution'ratherthan solvent, two-way valve 46 is reversed to admit detergent from tank21 into line 48 and to close off the supply of solvent. When high Watervolume and pressure are desired, as for rinsing purposes, pressurereducing valve 28 may be regulated by handle 23 to supply water underfull line pressure to the gun. Also, as previously described, valves 67and 68 may be actuated to convert the gun to serve as a suction device.

The portable construction of the unit permits its movement to anyconvenient location within the range permitted by the air and watersupply lines, and the extensibility of hose l by withdrawal from thereel further increases the facility with which an engine cleaningoperation may be accomplished.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for supplying fluids to an engine cleaning spray gun,comprising flexible hose means adapted to connect at an outer end to anengine cleaning spray gun, a tank for containing a supply of cleaningfluid, means for placing said tank in communication with said hose meansto deliver cleaning fluid therethrough to the gun, means for placing asource of water in communication with said hose means, an aspiratorcommunicable with said hose means and operable by compressed air to drawfluid inwardly through the hose means from the gun. and means forselectively connecting a source of compressed air with said hose meansor said aspirator.

2. Apparatus for supplying fluids to an engine cleaning spray gun,comprising flexible hose means adapted to connect at an outer end to anengine cleaning spray gun and containing three individual fluidconducting passages leading separately to the gun, a tank for containinga supply of cleaning fluid, means for placing said tank in communicationwith :a :flrst one :nf the passages in saidihosezmeansrto:deliveracleaning Ifluid therethrough .to the gun, means .for placingasourceofvcompressed airin communication with a: second passage .in saidhose. means, means for conducting water. from a supplyzthereof to thethird passage in said .hosemeanauan aspirator communicable with one. ofthe passages in *said hose m'eans and operable to draw :fluirl inwardlytherethrough from :the gun, .and a valve for controlling a supply ofpressure .zfluid to said 'aspirator.

'3. Apparatus for supplying fluids to an-engine cleaning spray gun,comprising flexible those means adapted to connect at-an outer 'end toan engine cleaning spray gun and containing three individual fluidconducting passages loading -to thergun,-a tank-for containing a supply'ofcleaning fluid-means for placing said tank in ;'com-- munication witha first one o'f the passages in said hose means to delivercleaning fluidtherethrough to the gun, means for placing a "source of water incommunication with a second *p'assage insaid'hose means, an-aspiratorcommunicablewith said-hosemeans'and operable by compressed air 'todrawfluid inwardly therethrough from the gun,'and-means 'forselectivelyconnecting -asource of compressed air with the third passage in saidhose means or said aspirator. 4. Apparatus 'forsupplyingfluids'toianengine cleaning spray gun, comprising a housing, arotatable reel within said housing, flexible hose means windable aboutsaid reel an-dcxtending outwardly through an opening in a wall of thehousing to connect with an engine cleaning spray gun, said hose meanscontaining three individual fluid conducting passages leading separatelyto the gun, a tank within the housing for containing a cleaning fluid,conduit means for placing said tank in communication with a first one ofsaid passages in said hose means for delivery of cleaning fluidtherethrough to the gun, a fluid passing fitting connectable to a sourceof water and communicating with a second passage in said hose means todeliver water thereto, and a fitting connectable to a source ofcompressed air and communicating with the third passage in said hosemeans to deliver air thereto.

5. Apparatus for supplying fluid to an engine cleaning spray gun,comprising a housing, a rotatable reel within said housing, flexiblehose means windable about said reel and extending outwardly through anopening in a wall of the housing to connect with an engine cleaningspray gun, said hose means containing three individual fluid conductingpassages leading separately to the gun, a tank within the housing forcontaining a cleaning fluid, means for placing said tank incommunication with a first one of said passages in said hose means fordelivery of cleaning fluid therethrough to the gun, means connectable toa source of water under pressure for conducting water therefrom to asecond passage in said hose means, an automatic pressure regulating andreducing valve within the housing connected into the water supply lineand acting to reduce the pressure of the water to and maintain it at apredetermined value, and means for placing a source of compressed air incommunication with the third passage in said hose means.

6. Apparatus for supplying fluid to an engine cleaning spray gun,comprising a housing, a rotatable reel within said housing, flexiblehose means windable about said reel and extending outwardly through anopening in a wall of the housing to connect with an engine cleaningspray gun, said hose means containing three individual fluid conductingpassages leading separately to the gun, a tank within the housing forcontaining a cleaning solvent, a second tank in the housing forcontaining a detergent solution, conduit means for selectively placingsaid tanks in communication with a first one of the passages in saidhose means for selective delivery of solvent and detergent solutionthereto, valve means connected into said conduit means for controllingthe selection between said solvent and detergent, means for placing asource of water in communication with a second passage in said hosemeans, and means for placing a source of compressed air in communicationwith the third passage in said hose means.

'7. Apparatus for supplying fluid to an engine cleaning spray gun,comprising a housing, a rotatable reel within said housing, flexiblehose d means windable about said reel and extending outwardly through anopening in a wall of the housing to connect with an engine cleaningspray gun, said hose means containing three individual fluid conductingpassages leading separately to the gun, a tank within the housing forcontaining a cleaning fluid, means for placing said tank incommunication with a first one of said passages in said hose means fordelivery of cleaning fluid therethrough to the gun, means for placing asourceof water in communication with a second passage in said hosemeans, an aspirator in the housing communicable with one of the passagesin said hose means and operable by compressed air to draw fluid inwardlytherethrough from the gun, and valve means for selectively connecting asource of compressed air with the third passage in said hose means orsaid aspirator. 1

8. Apparatus for supplying fluids to an engin cleaning spray gun,comprising flexible hose means adapted to connect at an outer end to anengine cleaning spray gun, a tank for containing a supply :of cleaningfluid, means for placing said tank in communication with said hosemeansto deliver cleaning fluid therethrough to the gun, means forplacing a source of compressed air in communication'with said hosemeans, means for conducting water from a supply thereof to said hosemeans, pumping means communicable with said hose means and operable todraw fluid inwardly therethrough from the gun, and means for controllingthe energization of said pumping means.

ELMORE J. SANDERS, J. ALLEN WIENS. 'ED-Ison J. MCQLAVE.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,198,045 Miller Sept. 12, 1916 1,198,046 Miller 1 Sept. 12,1916 2,071,174 Parker Feb. 16, 1937 2,310,633 Heimburger Feb. 9, 1943

